Go-kart thief arrested in sting operation sentenced to prison
A local woman arrested last year on multiple charges involving stolen go-karts after a sting operation by Garland County sheriff’s investigators was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty.
Amanda Michelle Laser, 39, who has remained in custody since her arrest Dec. 31, 2019, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to three counts of theft by receiving over $1,000 and two counts of breaking or entering, and was sentenced to six years in prison, with three years suspended, on each count to run concurrently.
Laser was also ordered to pay $190 in court costs and agreed to a warrantless search waiver upon her release.
According to the probable cause affidavit, sheriff’s investigators were contacted on Dec. 31 by a man who said he believed Laser was selling stolen items. He said he had met Laser at Harbour Storage, 436 McNeely Circle, and bought a toolbox from her for $60.
While there, Laser asked if he was interested in buying go-karts she had for sale and showed him five
different go-karts in two separate storage units, claiming she used to own a go-kart track and the karts were “barely used.” She was asking $3,000 for them.
Investigators observed Facebook messages between the man and Laser and had him set up a meeting with her back at the storage units for later that evening. She rescheduled several times but finally agreed to meet the man there at 9:30 p.m.
Sgt. John Greathouse went with the man to the meeting and upon arrival he noted three gokarts parked against the fence of the storage facility. Laser was there with a man, 38, and both of them were detained after Greathouse identified himself as a sheriff ’s investigator.
The go-karts were returned to their owner’s storage units, the affidavit states. There was a notebook with a bill of sale for three go-karts written and signed by Laser. Both Laser and the man were brought in for questioning and Laser took full responsibility for the break-ins and thefts.
She said she had met the man that day and “convinced him to help her sell the items,” so he was released without being charged.
Laser had remained in custody on bonds totaling $18,500 and pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 6.